A Taste Of Mumbai: Exploring The City's Famous Street Food Scene

Mumbai, also known as Bombay, is the financial and cultural capital of India, and it is famous for its vibrant street food scene. The city's street food is a reflection of its diverse cultures and cuisines, with a mix of Indian, Persian, and European influences. From spicy pav bhaji to crispy vada pav, Mumbai street food offers a range of flavours and textures that are sure to tantalise your taste buds. With countless street vendors and food stalls scattered throughout the city, Mumbai street food is a must-try for any food lover visiting India's largest metropolis. In this article, we'll explore the rich and varied world of Mumbai street food, from its history and origins to its most popular dishes and where to find them.

Vada Pav

The history of vada pav dates back to the 1960s when a street vendor named Ashok Vaidya began selling the snack from a stall near the Dadar railway station in Mumbai. He wanted to create a cheap and filling food option for the working-class commuters who passed by his stall. The dish quickly gained popularity and has since become an integral part of Mumbai's street food scene.

Today, vada pav is not only a tasty snack but also a symbol of Mumbai's working-class culture. It is a quick and affordable meal that is enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and it is often seen as a source of pride for the city's residents. Vada pav has also inspired various spin-offs and variations, such as the cheese vada pav and schezwan vada pav, which demonstrate the dish's adaptability and versatility. Overall, vada pav is a beloved snack that represents the spirit and flavour of Mumbai's street food culture.

Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji is a popular street food dish in India, particularly in the city of Mumbai. The dish is a spicy vegetable curry made with a blend of mashed vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, peas, onions and capsicums, which is served with a buttered pav (bread). The dish is typically garnished with fresh coriander leaves, chopped onions, and a dollop of butter.

Pav bhaji originated in the 1850s as a quick and easy meal for textile mill workers in Mumbai. It was made with leftover vegetables from the day's meals, mashed and cooked together with a blend of spices. The dish was then served with buttered pav, which was a cheap and easy option for the mill workers to grab on their lunch breaks. Over time, the dish evolved and gained popularity throughout Mumbai and the rest of India.

Pav bhaji has cultural significance as it is often seen as a symbol of Mumbai's street food culture. The dish is a quick and affordable meal that is enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and it has become a popular street food option for tourists visiting Mumbai. Pav bhaji is also seen as a unifying dish as it is enjoyed by people from different religious and cultural backgrounds. In Mumbai, pav bhaji stalls are found in every neighbourhood and are open until late at night, making it a staple of the city's vibrant street food scene.

Bhel Puri

Bhel puri is a popular street food snack in India, particularly in Mumbai. It is a savoury snack made with puffed rice, chopped vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and boiled potatoes, and a variety of chutneys and spices. Bhel puri is often garnished with sev (thin, fried noodles made from chickpea flour) and fresh coriander leaves.

The history of bhel puri is not well documented, but it is believed to have originated in Mumbai in the mid-20th century. It was initially sold as a street food snack by vendors who would mix together leftover ingredients such as puffed rice, vegetables, and chutneys to create a cheap and tasty snack.

Bhel puri has cultural significance as it is a popular snack that is enjoyed by people from all walks of life in India. It is often seen as a symbol of Mumbai's street food culture, and it is a quick and affordable meal that is perfect for on-the-go eating. Bhel puri stalls can be found throughout Mumbai, and they are a common sight at festivals, fairs, and other outdoor events.

The popularity of bhel puri has also led to variations of the dish being created, such as sev puri and dahi puri, which use similar ingredients but have different preparations and toppings.

Sev Puri

Sev puri is a popular street food snack in India, particularly in Mumbai. It is a savoury snack that consists of small, crispy puris (fried dough discs) that are topped with a mixture of potatoes, onions, and chutneys, and then garnished with sev (thin, fried noodles made from chickpea flour) and fresh coriander leaves.

The history of sev puri is not well documented, but it is believed to have originated in Mumbai in the mid-20th century. It was created as a variation of the popular street food snack, bhel puri, which also uses sev as a topping. Over time, sev puri became a beloved snack in its own right, and it is now a staple of Mumbai's street food scene.

Sev puri has cultural significance as it is a popular snack that is enjoyed by people from all walks of life in India. It is often seen as a symbol of Mumbai's street food culture, and it is a quick and affordable meal that is perfect for on-the-go eating. Sev puri stalls can be found throughout Mumbai, and they are a common sight at festivals, fairs, and other outdoor events.

The popularity of sev puri has also led to variations of the dish being created, such as dahi sev puri, which adds yoghurt to the mix, and bhel sev puri, which combines elements of both bhel puri and sev puri.

Pani Puri

Pani puri, also known as golgappa, is a popular street food snack in India, particularly in Mumbai. It is a small, crispy hollow puri (fried dough ball) that is filled with a mixture of boiled potatoes, chickpeas, and spices, and then dunked into a tangy, flavoured water (pani) before being popped into the mouth whole.

The history of pani puri is not well documented, but it is believed to have originated in the northern part of India. The snack is said to have been inspired by a similar snack from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh called phoolki. Over time, pani puri evolved and gained popularity throughout India, particularly in Mumbai, where it has become a beloved street food snack.

Pani puri has cultural significance as it is a popular snack that is enjoyed by people from all walks of life in India. It is often seen as a symbol of Mumbai's street food culture, and it is a quick and affordable meal that is perfect for on-the-go eating. Pani puri stalls can be found throughout Mumbai, and they are a common sight at festivals, fairs, and other outdoor events.

The popularity of pani puri has also led to variations of the dish being created, such as dahi puri, which uses yoghurt instead of flavoured water, and bhel puri, which uses a mixture of puffed rice, vegetables, and chutneys.

Dabeli

Dabeli is a popular street food snack from the western Indian state of Gujarat, but it is now enjoyed throughout India, particularly in Mumbai. It consists of a small, toasted bun that is filled with a spiced potato filling, peanuts, pomegranate seeds, and a tangy tamarind chutney, and is topped with sev (thin, fried noodles made from chickpea flour) and fresh coriander leaves.

The history of dabeli dates back to the 1960s in the Kutch region of Gujarat, where it was created by a street vendor named Keshavji Gabha Chudasama. He originally sold a spiced potato mixture known as vada pav, but he later started adding it to a toasted bun to create the dabeli. Over time, dabeli became a popular street food snack throughout Gujarat, and it eventually made its way to Mumbai, where it gained even more popularity.

Dabeli has cultural significance as it is a beloved snack that is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds in India. It is often seen as a symbol of Gujarat's street food culture, and it is a quick and affordable meal that is perfect for on-the-go eating. Dabeli stalls can be found throughout Mumbai and other cities in India, and they are a common sight at festivals, fairs, and other outdoor events.

The popularity of dabeli has also led to variations of the dish being created, such as cheese dabeli and schezwan dabeli, which add cheese and a spicy sauce, respectively, to the traditional filling.

Misal Pav

Misal pav is a popular street food dish from the western Indian state of Maharashtra, particularly in the city of Mumbai. It consists of a spicy curry made from sprouted moth beans, topped with crispy farsan (fried savoury mix), onions, and coriander, and served with a soft pav (bread roll) on the side.

The history of misal pav is not well documented, but it is believed to have originated in the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Over time, misal pav gained popularity throughout Maharashtra, and it eventually made its way to Mumbai, where it has become a beloved street food dish.

Misal pav has cultural significance as it is a popular dish that is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds in Maharashtra. It is often seen as a symbol of Maharashtra's street food culture, and it is a hearty and flavourful meal that is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Misal pav stalls can be found throughout Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra, and they are a common sight at festivals, fairs, and other outdoor events.

Kheema Pav

Kheema pav is a popular street food dish from Mumbai, India. It consists of a spicy minced meat curry, often made with lamb or beef, served with a soft pav (bread roll) on the side. The dish has a rich and flavourful taste, thanks to the use of fragrant spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.

The history of kheema pav is not well documented, but it is believed to have originated in Mumbai, where it quickly gained popularity among the local population. Kheema pav has cultural significance as it is a beloved dish that is often associated with the vibrant street food culture of Mumbai. It is a popular dish that can be found at many street food stalls and restaurants throughout the city.

Kheema pav is often enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, and it is a hearty and filling meal that is perfect for those who need a quick and satisfying meal on the go. It is also a dish that is often shared among friends and family, making it a social food that brings people together.

In recent years, variations of the dish have emerged, such as egg kheema pav, which adds boiled eggs to the curry, and cheese kheema pav, which adds melted cheese on top of the curry. These variations have helped to keep the dish fresh and exciting, while still maintaining its cultural significance and popularity among Mumbai's residents and visitors.